1,370 Shares in The Ensign Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENSG) Acquired by R Squared Ltd

R Squared Ltd purchased a new position in The Ensign Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENSG) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 1,370 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $182,000.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of ENSG. CWM LLC grew its holdings in shares of The Ensign Group by 16.2% in the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 508 shares of the company’s stock worth $73,000 after acquiring an additional 71 shares during the last quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in The Ensign Group by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 11,571 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,538,000 after purchasing an additional 78 shares in the last quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division raised its holdings in The Ensign Group by 7.3% during the 4th quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division now owns 1,180 shares of the company’s stock worth $157,000 after buying an additional 80 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a. boosted its holdings in shares of The Ensign Group by 30.1% in the third quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 385 shares of the company’s stock worth $55,000 after buying an additional 89 shares during the period. Finally, Lifestyle Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of The Ensign Group by 4.0% in the fourth quarter. Lifestyle Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,598 shares of the company’s stock worth $345,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 96.12% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Barry M. Smith sold 700 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $133.43, for a total transaction of $93,401.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 30,852 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,116,582.36. This represents a 2.22 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 3.90% of the company’s stock.

The Ensign Group Stock Performance

Shares of ENSG stock opened at $140.58 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $8.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.04, a PEG ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 1.56 and a quick ratio of 1.56. The Ensign Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $110.71 and a fifty-two week high of $158.45. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $138.52 and its two-hundred day moving average is $143.61.

The Ensign Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be paid a $0.0625 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 31st. This is a boost from The Ensign Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.06. This represents a $0.25 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.18%. The Ensign Group’s payout ratio is 6.05%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ENSG has been the subject of several research analyst reports. UBS Group began coverage on shares of The Ensign Group in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. They issued a “buy” rating and a $175.00 price target for the company. Stephens raised their target price on The Ensign Group from $163.00 to $167.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, October 28th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on The Ensign Group from $167.00 to $172.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, October 28th. Oppenheimer lifted their target price on The Ensign Group from $165.00 to $168.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Truist Financial reduced their price target on shares of The Ensign Group from $170.00 to $155.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $161.83.

The Ensign Group Profile

The Ensign Group, Inc provides skilled nursing, senior living, and rehabilitative services. It operates through two segments: Skilled Services and Standard Bearer. The company's Skilled Services segment engages in the operation of skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation therapy services for patients with chronic conditions, prolonged illness, and the elderly; and offers nursing facilities including specialty care, such as on-site dialysis, ventilator care, cardiac, and pulmonary management, as well as standard services comprising room and board, special nutritional programs, social services, recreational activities, entertainment, and other services.